Pelicans To Gather For Voluntary Minicamp Amid Brandon Ingram Trade Rumors

It’s never too early to get a jump on next season. Or in the case of the New Orleans Pelicans, a jump on training camp.

Per Will Guillory of The Athletic, the Pelicans are getting together next week in California for a pre-camp training camp of sorts. Or as Guillory described it, a voluntary workout. Everyone but center Daniel Theis will be there, he added.

This is typical of many teams, actually, made famous by LeBron James during his second stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers. They get together to bond, workout, and yes, perhaps experience some nightlife.

LA also has some popular private gyms that have the capability to host a gathering of multimillion-dollar athletes.

Anyway, back to the Pelicans. They made a big swing this offseason by landing standout guard Dejounte Murray in a trade with the Atlanta Hawks, so there will be an adjustment period therefor the backcourt. Murray and CJ McCollum will need time to fit.

Interestingly, this offseason has been filled with trade rumors surrounding Brandon Ingram, but per Guillory’s report, he will be in Los Angeles, too. Sometimes, trade rumors are exactly that — rumors. It doesn’t impact players as much as we are occasionally led to believe.

Ingram has not publicly requested a trade and sources have told Hoops Wire he hasn’t privately requested one, either.

“Brandon wants to stay here. He believes in what we’re building,” Pelicans head of basketball operations David Griffin told reporters in June. “That’s meaningful to us. … At the same time, there’s a financial reality that we all deal with. We’re excited about Brandon. We know he’s excited about us.”